This Annual Report differs from recent previous reports, in that there is no record of the activities of the Ilkeston District. This is because no Committee was elected at the Annual District Meeting of that District at the beginning of 2005. This came about because the Ilkeston District had only 57 members, whereas numbers in the other three districts were 115, 241 and 173. There were fewer members, as there were fewer towers in the Ilkeston District
During 2005, several Ilkeston District members attended events in the other districts, particularly the Derby District. Towers also received copies of Strike Notes, a monthly newsletter produced by Derby District members. However, something had to be done to ensure that those ringers living in the Ilkeston District were fully represented on the Association Committee and enjoyed all the other benefits of Association membership. A re-organisation of the districts was necessary and Alec Humphrey proposed a way of doing this.
The Chesterfield and Peak Districts would serve the same towers as previously, but the towers in the Derby and Ilkeston Districts would be re-arranged so that the members in each district would be more equally shared out between two new districts.
The new districts are to be known as the Central District and the Southern District.
The Central District is made up of towers in the following Deaneries: Ashbourne, Duffield, Longford and Heanor.
The Southern District consists of towers in these Deaneries: Derby North, Derby South, Erewash, Melbourne and Repton.
The new Committees were elected at a meeting on January 7th. I hope the new districts will prove to be very successful. Please support the events arranged by your Committee.
Pat Halls